Rugby Confidential: RA holds promising talks with New Zealand on trans-Tasman competition for 2022
Ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand are set to play havoc on next year’s Super Rugby season, with the league likely to be forced into a major change.
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Ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand is set to force Super Rugby to continue as domestic tournaments in 2021, however officials are hopeful the trans-Tasman version will be finalised for 2022.
In a major development, Rugby Confidential has learned that both Australia and New Zealand are looking at domestic models for next year with six teams each, which would roll into a crossover finals series between the top two from both countries.
New Zealand is looking at introducing a Pasifika team in south Auckland, while Australia will add a Japanese team if possible.
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Both proposed additional teams will take much work in a limited space of time, so the two nations are also preparing for the possibility of playing the 2021 season as is now, with their five established Super franchises in both Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa.
The re-emergence of coronavirus cases in New Zealand this week, after more than 100 days without a positive test, has made it near impossible for officials to plan trans-Tasman travel with any certainty for next year.
However, Rugby Australia’s cool response to New Zealand’s offer for “expressions of interest” in their planned eight to 10 team competition that would only have room for two Aussie franchises will also have played a part in the shifting of plans.
RA refused to budge on their position they would not cut any of their five teams, and the Kiwis are unlikely to be able to scramble an additional three teams together for their own tournament without Australia’s help.
The domestic-only tournaments next year would allow both nations to plan in confidence for matches to go ahead, and it’s hoped that by the time the finals come around trans-Tasman travel will not be affected by the pandemic.
The planned 2020 The Rugby Championship series planned for a hub in New Zealand in November is also in doubt because of the new outbreak across the ditch.
Kiwi Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern faces a tough choice about allowing a hub for international rugby to be played, or keeping the border closed if cases continue to rise.
While South Africa has expressed reservations about Springboks players leaving family and friends for an extended period of time with their nation dealing with a severe spread of the disease, Argentina’s Pumas have been training in an isolated hub in preparation for TRC.
Cavalry locked in
Australia has lost more than its fair share of locks recently, but one could be heading back.
Steve Cummins is in talks to return to Melbourne Rebels from Welsh club Scarlets, who he joined in 2017.
The 28-year-old would be a welcome boost to Australia’s ailing second row stocks, with Izack Rodda deciding to join French club Lyon earlier this year, and Rob Simmons heading to London Irish at season’s end.
Will Skelton, Rory Arnold and Adam Coleman are also overseas, leading to speculation RA could change eligibility rules as a one-off this year to allow them to be picked for any Tests.
Meanwhile, youngsters Mack Hansen and Ryan Lonergan are set to sign contract extensions to remain at the Brumbies.
Giteau goes back to his roots
There are strong whispers one Matt Giteau will be playing for the Gungahlin Eagles in Canberra’s club rugby competition this Saturday.
Giteau was among several Australian players linked to the Major League Rugby tournament in the United States, but that competition is in grave doubt due to the horrific toll coronavirus has had in America.
It would be quite something to see the former Wallabies playmaker turning out in club footy.
Selection showdown
Another big club event this weekend will see a virtual Wallaroos playoff, with the best women’s players facing off in a star-studded fixture at Coogee’s Latham Park.
Sydney University take on Randwick in a rematch of last year’s Jack Scott Cup grand final on Saturday at 6pm, and 18 of the starting 30 players on the field are Wallaroos or Australian women’s sevens players.
Uni will field Grace Hamilton, Sera Naiqama, Adiana Talakai, Lori Cramer, Emily Chancellor, Fiona Jones, Iliseva Batibaasaga, Piper Duck and Jakiya Whitfield, while Randwick boasts Shannon Parry, Eva Karpani, Georgina Friedrichs, Layne Morgan, Oneata Schwalger, Kennedy Cherrington, Arabella McKenzie, Maya Stewart and Rhiannon Byers.
The two teams are undefeated after the first three rounds of the 2020.
Worthy recipient
A huge congratulations to our former colleague Jim Tucker, who has been inducted into Suncorp Stadium Media Wall of Fame.
The legendary Courier Mail rugby scribe, who took a redundancy last month, becomes just the ninth media figure on the wall, alongside Jack Reardon, George Lovejoy, Frank O’Callaghan, Steve Ricketts, Gerry Collins, Barry Dick, Wayne Heming, and the late Billy J Smith.